In 2021, SPACE21 turned its focus to the concept of ISOLATION in artistic practice, delving into how solitude, distance, and individual experience shape contemporary sound art amid global upheaval. That year’s program featured portfolio performances spotlighting solo improvisations and sound works, each offering a deeply personal reflection of the artist’s journey through and after the pandemic.

These performances served as intimate windows into creative processes shaped by isolation. Artists presented compositions and improvisations that captured the nuances of solitude—its challenges, revelations, and transformative potential. By sharing the sounds and voices born from these periods of separation, the festival fostered a unique public listening experience.

Through carefully designed listening sessions in public spaces, SPACE21 invited audiences to engage deeply with their surroundings. The act of collective listening became a bridge, connecting individuals not only with the artists’ stories but also with the acoustic environment of Slemani itself. In this way, ISOLATION was reimagined—not as a barrier, but as a catalyst for connection, empathy, and renewed attention to the world around us.